In a high octane London derby that had the Emirates Stadium rocking to its very foundations, Mikel Arteta made a substitution that has left the GoalZa...
In a high octane London derby that had the Emirates Stadium rocking to its very foundations, Mikel Arteta made a substitution that has left the GoalZaza panel shaking their heads in sheer bewilderment. The Arsenal manager, known for his meticulous attention to detail, decided to withdraw Riccardo Calafiori shortly after the hour mark despite the Italian left back having given a thoroughly commanding account of himself in the first period. The former Bologna man was a stalwart presence down the flank, snuffing out attacks with the kind of clinical precision that makes a defence formidable. Yet, with the score delicately poised against a resilient West Ham outfit, Arteta opted to bring on a fresh pair of legs, a move that GoalZaza. �s Danny Murphy described as. �strange. � in the extreme. The powers that be at the London Colney training ground will no doubt have their reasons, but in the scheme of things, taking off the man who had the lion. �s share of defensive duels won seemed to invite pressure. At the end of the day, Arsenal held on for a result, but the debate over the manager. �s substitution pattern will rage on. The Nigerian international Victor Osimhen, watching from his base in Naples, might have wondered how Arteta manages such gambles in the heat of a title race. Down in Lagos, the viewing centres were buzzing with the kind of energy that only the English Premier League can bring. Young men in Arsenal jerseys, clutching their cold bottles of malt, were shouting at the screens as Calafiori made his way to the bench.. �Arteta don mad o,. � one fan was heard yelling in Surulere, his voice cracking with frustration.. �That boy was the only one who could carry the ball out of defence. Now we go suffer for this half hour.. � The tension was thick enough to be cut with a knife as West Ham pushed forward, and only a few last ditch tackles saved the Gunners from dropping points. It is this kind of drama that keeps Nigerian fans glued to their DStv subscriptions, and bodes well for the weekend. �s Super Eagles watch parties across Abuja.
